Fence-post.



G.' E. MESECAR.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.26. 191s.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

GrEORGFIV E. AIll/IESI'CLALR., OF SIERRA MADRE, CALFORNIA.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. et, i917.

Application tiled September 26, 1916. Serial No. 123,443.

T0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Mnsncan, acitizen of the United States, residingat- Sierra Madre, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have `invented a new and usefulImprovement in Fence- Posts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates t"o fence posts and has for its object theprovision of a metallic post for usefin connection with wire fences andcapable of holding the wires` of the fence thereon at regular intervals.

A further object is to provide means whereby the fence wires maybereadily inserted in suitable apertures provided on the .posts andthereafter locked-firmly in posi-` tion. i

A further object is to provide a post which maybe driven into the ground1n readiness to receive the fence wires and means removably attachablethereto for jects may appear as the `description pro` gresses. v

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedpost, broken away at the bottom showing the method of holding the fencewires thereon. Fig. Q is a fragmentary elevation of the post and thelocking member held therein.` Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2 inposition for use, partly broken away at points to show the interior ofthe post. Fig. 4L is a transverse sectional plan on a plane between thewire holding means.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the several views of thedrawing and throughout the speciiication for indieating like parts.

My fence post comprises only two parts, the outer semi-cylindricalmetallic shell 1 forming the post proper, constructed of a single pieceof relatively thick sheet metal. An aperture 2 is formed between theedges of the iianges 3 which parallel a line cutting the axis of thepost at right angles to the fence and extend substantially outward fromthe diametrical line paralleling the fence, coincident with which line,the metal forming the post is bent at right angles to the flanges 3 soas to form shoulders 4 on both sides of the aperture 2.

The posts l may be set in position and driven into the ground for asufficient depth by placing a block of wood or a suitable metal cap ofany suitable character over the top of the post, the fianged andrecessed side of the post being placed at right angles to the fenceline. The outwardly extended flanges 3 which extend the full length ofthe post are provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined notches 5which are wider at the edges of the flanges than the inner ends and arearranged, preferably at of the notches will accommodate different gagesof wire. I provide a locking means for clamping the wires 6 firmly tothe posts 1 which includes an elongated member 7 of T formation, whichmay be formed of a single piece of sheet metal, as shown in the drawingsor a piece of standard T iron may be used if desirable. The member 7extends upwardly from the ground to a point slightly below the top ofthe post l when it 'is inserted in operating position in the post andthe webs 8 thereof are adapted to en gage the vertical shoulders Ll andare substantially of the same width as the interior of the post l in theplane of the shoulders. The central flange 9 of the member 7 correspondsin width to that of the` flanges 3 and extends outwardly from the centerof the post into the aperture 2. Downwardly inclined notches l0 whichare similar to the `notches 5 in the flanges 3 and are similarly spaced,are formed in the fiange 9 of the member 7 and are adapted to receivethe wires 6 and hold the same therein.

Fig. 3 illustrates the relative positions of the notches 5 in theflanges 3 and 10 in the flange 9 when the wires are taut. When the postsare properly set and driven and the wires 6 inserted in the notches 5 ofthe posts, the locking member 7 may be inserted in the recess 11 of theposts 1 and the notches 10 in this member hooked over the wires. Withthe wires 6 held taut by a suitable stretcher, the member 7 ymay bedriven downwardly in the post until the inner ends of the notches areslightly below the inner ends of the notches 5 in the post. A shortpiece of wire 12 may then be inserted in suitable perforations in theanges 3 above the end oi the member 7 so as to hold the member 7 in theposition to which it has been driven, thus holding all of the Wires 6taut. The ends of the retaining pin or Wire l2 may then be bent so thatit may not be accidentally removed from the post.

It Will be observed that all of the fence wires are thus locked to thepost by the single member 7 and at a single operation, thus facilitatingthe construction of the fence, but if desirable the member 7 posed of a.plurality of short lengths, as shown in lF ig. 3, so that one Wire maybe strung at a time and locked tothe post. In such case the fence Wireswould not be clamped until all of the Wires were in position `when theupper section of the member 7 would be driven against the lower sectionsv and then locked downwardly by means of the pin 12.

As long as the pin 12 retains its position over the upper end of themember 7 it Will be impossible toi'eiriove the wires G from the posts,but the manner of clamping the Wires to the posts `will readilyl permitthe expansion and contraction of the Wires by changes in the temperatureand such exn pansion and contraction will be distributed alongl the lineof the fence rather than in the separate bays of the fence, thuspreventing unsightly sagging of the Wires. As hereinbefore stated theserrated form of notches shown in F ig. 3 may be at times preferable tothe smooth edged notches for the serrations will4 prevent any slippageof the wires in the notches.

The recessed form of post readily permits the driving of the posts intothe ground and obviates the necessity for digging ypost holes, as in theusual cases; and When so driven, inasmuch as the necessity for removingthe dirt from the vicinity of the posts will be dispensed With, theposts Will be more rigidly and rmly held in position.

may be coml Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

.1. A sheet metalfence post comprising a recessed outer member havingdiametrically opposite shoulders extending the entire of the anges onsaid outer member and provided With a plurality of diagonall notches forregistration withv and disposed in planes substantially at right anglesto the notches in said outer member for receiving and holding theence'vfires; and

means for locking said inner and outer`members together. f

2. A sheet metal fence postv comprising a semi-cylindrical outer memberhc ving diametrically opposite shoulders extending the ventire lengththereof, a longitudinal opening between said shouldersand a flange oneach side of said opening extending` at right angles to said shoulders,said flanges having diagonally disposed notchesformed at intervalstherein; and a sectional inner member having a Web engaging saidshoulders and a flange extended at right anglestherefrom intermediate ofthe flanges on said outer member and provided With a plurality ofdiagonal notches for registration With and disposed in planessubstantially at right angles to the notchesin4 said outer member forreceiving and holding the fence Wires;-

and means for locking said inner and outer members together. v

GEORGELE. MESEGAR.

Witnesses: l

J. D. HASKIN, Gmo. E. MARLATT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forve cents each, by `addressingthe Commissipnerof Patents,

Washington, D C. i

